The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) spoke on Tuesday at the party’s north-west town hall meeting in Katsina.

Under item 39 of the exclusive legislative list in Part I of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, mines and minerals, including oilfields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas, fall under the legislative jurisdiction of the federal government.

Makinde said the current constitutional arrangement should be changed to allow states to take responsibility for mining activities within their territories, while the federal government retains oversight.

“Right now, the issue of mining is on the exclusive legislative list in our constitution. Devolve that responsibility to the states and let there be oversight only at the federal level. They will do better,” Makinde said.

The governor made the statement in the wake of the deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state.

“Is it their fault that they were born in Nigeria? Is it their fault that they were looking for means of surviving? No, sir. The answer is no,” Makinde said.

“People may not want to take responsibility, but from what has been done so far and the actions that have been taken, we can see that we are focusing on the supply side of things. For every 10,000 illegal miners, you have perhaps another 10,000 on the demand side, legitimising the operation.”

Makinde said if elected president, his administration will “reset” the nation’s economy.

“Yes, people will argue that Nigeria is rich in natural resources. But natural resources are not enough. You must have skills and knowledge, and you must also have intensive production. Our economy must work 24/7. Otherwise, if our economy shuts down at 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening, we cannot compete with economies that are running 24/7,” he said.

The APM presidential candidate criticised President Bola Tinubu for spending more than 21 days away from the country without formally transferring power to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

“Anytime I have to travel out for more than 21 days, not for work but on vacation, I transmit power to the deputy governor. Why is this not happening at the national level? he asked.

“Section 145 of the constitution provides for the president to transmit a written declaration to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.

“If the President is unable, whether through sickness, a medical trip or incapacitation, to function, we are all human. Anything can happen to anybody at any time. If that happens, the president should also transmit power to the vice-president.”

Makinde said he would formally transfer power to his vice-president whenever he is away on vacation if elected president.

Also speaking, Lawal Daura, APM vice-presidential candidate, identified insecurity and poverty as some of the country’s most pressing challenges, saying a Makinde administration would tackle them through reforms focused on strengthening security, expanding economic opportunities and improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

Yisuf Dantele, APM national chairman, described Makinde as “young, active and pragmatic”, adding that he has delivered good governance in Oyo and will replicate it across the country if elected president.